Whithersoever they went out, the hand of the LORD was against them for evil, as the LORD had said, and as the LORD had sworn unto them: and they were greatly distressed.
Wherever they went, the LORD's power worked against them to bring trouble, just as the LORD had warned them and promised would happen. They were in great distress and suffering.
God is allowing the Israelites to face serious troubles because they broke their covenant with Him, just as He had warned them would happen.
📚 Historical Context
This verse comes during the period of the Judges, after Joshua's death, when Israel repeatedly fell into cycles of disobedience and idolatry. The Israelites had broken their covenant with God by worshiping foreign gods and failing to drive out the pagan nations as commanded. God had previously warned them through Moses and Joshua that disobedience would result in defeat and oppression by their enemies.
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